Tuesday was the first of several forums planned in advance of the GOP primary for Illinois governor.

Three of the candidates, state Sen. Bill Brady, state Treasurer Dan Rutherford and state Sen. Kirk Dillard attended the Will County Tea Party forum in Plainfield, but the front-runner — Bruce Rauner — was a no-show.

An empty chair was placed on stage for Rauner, who asked that a surrogate read an opening statement for him, a request that was denied.

*** UPDATE *** Dillard has first-hand knowledge of being labeled as “not a Republican.” Remember this 2010 ad?…

Good piece. Mailing would be effective. Gotta wonder whether the committed Rauner supporters even care though. Many of the otherwise conservative tea partiers and base have bought in head first to the term limits and ousting career politicians mantra. Doesn’t seem as though the messenger matters as much as much as the message for these folks.

Realize that you missed an opportunity. I am going to give you a really good way to capitalize on the “missing Rauner” and keep the narrative going, but you “3” have to realize its only as good as the “3” of you make it;

Get a White t-shirt, and in just plain block capital letters, “Bears Blue”, two lines, top line “Payton”, right below, “Prep”.

Only one shirt is needed, but if you each get one, make sure they all look the same; White shirt, two lines, “Bears Blue”, “Payton” Prep”

Since place like the League of Women’s voters, or any hosts may not let that shirt hang all debate, forum, whatever, what needs to be done right before the event;

Tweet a picture, of that shirt on the chair, on a podium, hanging down from the table …

Yes! Now you have your supporters retweet, and use the hashtags, especially “#Raunering”

Raunering is an empty chair, for example, but to Rauner, you need to then have “Payton Prep” there; a sheet of paper will do perfect, with 2 lines …

“Payton” and “Prep” right below it…

Unions can participate in #Raunering, by having their supporters be at a Bulls game, with an empty seat … sign in Empty seat, tweet …

“Invited buddy to see” Bruce Rauner’s team”, no show #Raunering”#TWILL

Feed the idea of missing, of clouting, and of making Bruce Rauner accountable, and mocking him missing things.

If Rauner misses 15 events, then 15 tweets, a narrative, forms well before the 15 events, and that tweet will be fun to wait for, and the “3” can control and continue the narrative.

#Raunering – Teacher Unions, State and City Unions, they should all be retweeting #Raunering, creating their own #Raunering moments …

A register at McDonalds … “No worker to work for $1 less at McDonalds today, so employees are #Raunering … take a napkin and print clearly, “Payton” “Prep” #TWILL. A picture a day … the shirt … #Raunering #TWILL

That t-shirt, those hand-made signs, those pictures, the Tweeting, the hastags #TWILL #Raunering…everywhere, like the gnome who vacations all over the country.

That is the idea…No show Rauner, but the shirt shows up, and up, and up.

You have no Ads, no money, gotta get Narrative moving someway! Gotta do something.

First #Raunering idea?

Get that “Payton Prep” sign next to a stack of bologna and just tweet the picture with the hashtags #Raunering #TWILL

Isn’t it a reality that you have to snuggle up a bit to the opposition in this state no matter what party you are in? Thompson and Ryan did it and found success. I know there is a fine line and I am not saying Rauner hasn’t leapt over it but the knee jerk partisanship that is sweeping the state, and the nation, isn’t working well for either side, is it? Rauner trying to look like a tea party candidate while having those democrat contacts is gonna look odd if the 3 can push it to the forefront of the campaign.

Betcha Jil Tracy is having buyer’s remorse for signing on to this flop of a campaign. The bozos in the Dillard HQ can’t do anything right. All the Dot Food money in the world is not going to save D-Lard. A week of pounding Rauner, and Rauner pulls further ahead. Keep following Mr Willy’s advice, and Rauner will be above 50% in no time.

Obama Ad. Didn’t hear an endorsement for Obama in the ad. Granted, Dillard has to drag this one around for eternity. But, the ad was during the Iowa primary and came after Obama sponsored Illinois ethics legislation with Dillard. Dillard was on John McCain’s campaign in Illinois.

I am still amazed by the right wing nuts that back Rauner while hammering Dillard for the ad.

At least Rauner doesn’t have to sell out his core values to fund his campaign. I understand that Rutherford and Dillard are kissing some serious tail with the public employee unions to get a few bucks. Politics and policy support amongst politicians is all about giving and returning favors. Favoring the unions over the taxpayers pretty much kills any hope of serious and subtantive pension reform, or business or taxpayer tax relief. I really don’t see much difference between Quinn, Rutherford and Dillard except both Dillard and Rutherford would be much more “flexible” to giving Madigan what he wants! People owe Rauner favors from his past actions. If elected, he can call in those chits and get some serious progress in those things devastating our state.

Rauner is willing to cash out his favors for political support of his solutions, and Dillard and Rutherford are TAKING favors that will compromise them as Governor. I know which I’D prefer leading the state!

Second City Cop - a CPD blog (not sanctioned by CPD of course) slightly to the right of Attila the Hun - and its commentors seem to share the “Not a Republican” thought. Rauner’s take on unions and pensions don’t exactly resonate either. Posts on Rauner are becoming a regular occurance.

So i should vote for Rauner to clean up the mess. I am supposed to do this because his long career of donating and funding the current system allows him to call in favors from the current system so he can fix it. Huhm that is a unique perspective.

–People owe Rauner favors from his past actions. If elected, he can call in those chits and get some serious progress in those things devastating our state.–

This has evloved to Rauner playing whack-a-mole with the “3″. Dillard, firmly in third place, has taken up the role of chief mole. He’s a gamer though. Bill and Dan are choosing the less abusive path for now.

Smart move by Rauner not to show up at the debate. His best chance of winning to use the very successful strategy that Madigan uses for some of his candidates. Never talk to the press or in public forums. Use only paid media so you have total control of the message, and eliminate any possibility of making a dumb statement